Religious groups ready to help Staten Island after Hurricane Sandy

Some 500 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will again volunteer their time to clean out flooded basements, tear out damaged sheetrock and carpets.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Bishop Robert A. Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America met with the pastors of all the Lutheran churches on Staten Island and toured the shoreline devastation earlier this week.

The bishop arrived at Christ Lutheran Church, Great Kills, on Tuesday to take a walking tour with the Rev. Dani Fey and the other Lutheran pastors. The group saw homes damaged and destroyed homes bearing inspection stickers denying or restricting owner access, piles of garbage bags from clean-ups, and boats that were swept onto streets and tossed against homes and businesses.

“We gave the bishop a tour to get a sense of how unimaginable and catastrophic the devastation was,” Rev. Fey said. “We spent time sharing some stories from our members so he can share with pastors in the rest of the New York area.”

Volunteers from Christ Lutheran and the other churches are helping their neighbors do everything from mucking out basements to dropping off trays of food. Special collections were made and prayers were said last weekend.

Lutheran congregations throughout the nation are contributing to the ELCA Disaster Relief Fund and Staten Island pastors have received calls offering assistance from congregations throughout the country. Local efforts are being coordinated by Pastor Robert Vogl at Zion Lutheran Church at 505 Watchogue Rd. For information, call 718-981-3151.

MORMONS VOLUNTEER

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is mobilizing about 500 volunteers for this weekend to clean out flooded basements, pump out water, remove damaged furniture and other personal items from homes, tear out damaged sheet rock and carpet, and bleach areas damaged by water to prevent mold.

Volunteers must wear gloves and bring food and water for themselves for the day. They should bring their own equipment where possible, including knives, work gloves, safety eye protection, hammers, crowbars, contractor type garbage bags, mops, good work shoes or boots, push brooms and cleaning supplies such as bleach and bleach wipes. Volunteers should mark their tools and equipment with their names and dress appropriately.

The staging location will be the Staten Island Chapel of the church at 913 Rockland Ave. in New Springville. Volunteers meet at Saturday morning <CM+NT November 10 -NT>and will start again on Sunday following the 8:30 a.m. service at the church. Mormon Helping Hands Facebook page provides updates on hurricane service projects.

PRESBYTERIAN ASSIST

The national Presbyterian Disaster Assistance team visited Staten Island and has begun to work with relief agencies and churches to help organize efforts.

Many churches and individuals from across the country are arranging to send supplies and volunteers in the weeks and months ahead. The assistance will be coordinated through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) so efforts will be synchronized with needs. Supplies and volunteers locally are being organized by e-mailing thiaregg@gmail.com.

Calvary Presbyterian Church and Olivet Presbyterian Church, both in West Brighton, are integral to the process. Yesterday, Calvary hosted a free workshop on how to safely and properly muck out a house.

“This is what so many Staten Islanders and their friends are doing right now as they clear out damaged household contents and prepare the guts of the house for repair and replacement,” said the Rev. David Noble, interim pastor at Calvary.

Calvary is located at 909 Castleton Ave. For information, call 718-981-5657. Olivet Presbyterian will be handling bulk donations in its church at 97 Myrtle Ave. For information, call 718-981-5043.

FREE FOOD

Members of Salem Church/ Utopia Outreach have organized a barbecue-style event set for today, 12-4 p.m., near the Dolphin Circle at the corner of Father Capodanno Boulevard and Sand Lane.

Donations have been provided by the West Brighton church, Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse, Alfonso’s Bakery and Goodfellas Pizzeria.

UMC HELPERS NEEDED

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is “responding mightily” to Hurricane Sandy, according to Bruce Hodgman of Stapleton.

To volunteer or donate, visit the New York Annual Conference web site, NYAC.com, or the Facebook page. People can text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation.

United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM), which works under the UMCOR, has an urgent need for Staten Islanders to compile a list of homes that must be cleaned, sanitized and secured. UMVIM also is looking for volunteers to assist as relief team members for six hours per day for several days. There also is a need to connect outside offers of financial and material help with the specific needs of Staten Island residents.

The Rev. Matt Schaeffer, pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church in Tottenville is helping lead the effort and his church is the headquarters for UMC relief efforts on Staten Island. Bethel is at 7033 Amboy Rd., Tottenville; call 718-984-1277.

The Rev. Song Ha Park, the pastor of Summerfield UMC in Mariner’s Harbor, is taking the lead in organizing his parish’s response to the disaster. He will talk to parishioners at Sunday’s 11 a.m. service about the efforts. Summerfield UMC is at 104 Harbor Rd. For information, call 718-442-8792.

“For some of us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do what we can.” Hodgman said.

EPISCOPAL RELIEF

The Church of the Ascension at 1 Kingsley Ave. in West Brighton across from Clove Lakes Park is accepting donations of food, blankets, children’s and adult’s coats, cleaning supplies, heavy-duty garbage bags, diapers and other baby supplies, and personal toiletries.

The Rev. Nicholas P. Petropoulakos, pastor, and parishioners have delivered many items to the distribution centers. Funds donated will be used to purchase gift cards for home improvement, grocery and other goods that will be distributed directly to needy families. To donate or volunteer, call at 718-494-0658 for the church at 1641 Richmond Ave..

MOUNT MANRESA SHELTERS MANY

Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Fort Wadsworth is housing more than 60 people in one dormitory and has turned over its administration building to FEMA/Catholic Charities.

Shealy Hall will housing people coming to work on repairing homes on the island. For more, visit the web site Mountmanresa.org or call 718-727-3844; the retreat house is at 239 Fingerboard Rd.

CALVARY CHAPEL HOUSES VOLUNTEERS

Calvary Chapel in Mariner’s Harbor is housing a team of 18 volunteers from Grace Church in Akron, Ohio, and another 25 people from Calvert Grace Brethren Church in Calvert, Md.

A class in Disaster and Crisis Counseling will be among those offered when the New York Institute for Biblical Studies hold registration this Monday <CM+NT November 12th -NT>from 6-7 p.m. at Calvary Chapel. For information, visit the web site at NYIBS.net or call the NYIBS office at 718-354-9971. All classes meet on Monday nights at Calvary Chapel at 30 Maple Parkway.

BUDDHISTS ASSIST

The Staten Island Buddhist Vihara is asking for volunteers to pitch in with disaster relief this Sunday.

Helpers are asked to wear gloves when they gather <CM+NT November, 11 -NT>at 10 a.m. at the temple at 115 John St. to volunteer.

BABY ITEMS AVAILABLE

Oakwoood Heights Community Church received a large quantity of donations on Friday and will be receiving more items from a 16-foot truck on Saturday. The church has baby food and diapers and car seats, clothing from infants to adults, blankets, food, bottled water and cleaning supplies.

Storm victims needing such supplies should visit the church at 350 Guyon Ave. on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 718-351-3667.

PENTECOSTAL SERVICE

A Pastoral Service will be held for the Rev. Marilyn C. Landry at Pentecostal Faith Church of God in Tompkinsville on Sunday. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Wanda Roberson of Greater New Hope Baptist Church at the service at 4:30 p.m. in the church at 105 Brook St.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

The Sunday School Department and the Sunday School Youth Choir of St. Philip’s Baptist Church in Port Richmond will be celebrating their 18th year anniversary on Sunday. The morning worship service at 11 a.m. will be followed by a free dinner. The anniversary service will be at 3:30 p.m. in the church at 77 Bennett St. For information, call 718-420-0831.

CARMELITE GROUP

The Fourth Mansion of “The Interior Castle,” the masterwork of St. Teresa of Avila, will continue to be the subject Sunday morning for the St. Teresa R.C. Church study group as it explores the lives and spirituality of the Carmelite saints in Castleton Corners.

“Interior Castle” is regarded by many as the ultimate guide for anyone seeking an intimate relationship with God through prayer. The study group, led by parishioners Eileen and Ed Donnelly, members of the New York City secular community of the Carmelite Order, will meet at 10 a.m. in the parish’s Blessed John XXIII Center at the corner of Slosson Avenue and Windsor Road.

For information, the Donnellys can be reached by telephone at 718-448-9716 or by e-mail at ejdon1@aol.com.